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Build a Girlfriend
A teen deep-dives into her dating history to uncover her mistakes, become the perfect girlfriend, and get revenge on the wrong guy so she can ride into the sunset with the right one in this debut rom-com.
To the surprise of no one, Amelia Hernandez is once again single. It’s her family curse at work; whether it’s by heartbreak, scandal, or even accidental death, every romantic relationship that a Hernandez woman has will meet its demise eventually. And that may be fine with Amelia’s sisters, mom, and aunts, but definitely not with Amelia.
So, convinced that she is the problem, Amelia decides to embark on an “Ex Retrospective:” tracking down her exes, finding out where she went wrong, and using that information to finally become un-break-up-able for whenever her next relationship comes along. Because Amelia is determined to be free of the family curse…and her family.
However, when Amelia is unwillingly reunited with Leon, the ex to end all exes, she can’t resist having a little revenge on the side, too. After all, what better way to test out her new persona of perfect girlfriend traits than on the boy who broke her heart?
But old loves die hard, and as Amelia’s feelings grow more complicated, she suspects that she may be in for more than she bargained for.
To the surprise of no one, Amelia Hernandez is once again single. It’s her family curse at work; whether it’s by heartbreak, scandal, or even accidental death, every romantic relationship that a Hernandez woman has will meet its demise eventually. And that may be fine with Amelia’s sisters, mom, and aunts, but definitely not with Amelia.
So, convinced that she is the problem, Amelia decides to embark on an “Ex Retrospective:” tracking down her exes, finding out where she went wrong, and using that information to finally become un-break-up-able for whenever her next relationship comes along. Because Amelia is determined to be free of the family curse…and her family.
However, when Amelia is unwillingly reunited with Leon, the ex to end all exes, she can’t resist having a little revenge on the side, too. After all, what better way to test out her new persona of perfect girlfriend traits than on the boy who broke her heart?
But old loves die hard, and as Amelia’s feelings grow more complicated, she suspects that she may be in for more than she bargained for.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 14, 2025
22 people are currently reading
1468 people want to read
About the author
Elba Luz
3 books44 followers Elba Luz is a lover of stories, whether in the form of anime, manga, video games, or, of course, books. A failed astrophysicist turned publishing professional in New York City, she can be found annoying people with facts about space or lounging about with her adorable pit bull Stormy. She writes romance for adults and teens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
July 8, 2025
rip Shakespeare you would have loved Build a Girlfriend
April 22, 2025
DNF @ the first page cuz the fmc mentioned she had a girlfriend 😭
THE PLOT SOUNDED SO GOOD 😕
THE PLOT SOUNDED SO GOOD 😕
December 18, 2022
My favorite thing about this book (besides the fact that it had me in tears from laughing so hard) was the realistic portrayal of a teenage Latina that is struggling to balance the love and responsibility she feels towards her family with the desire to find a future of her own. It was so healing and refreshing to read a YA story where family (one filled with beautiful, badass women) is at the center, but more importantly, that we got to explore all the emotions and relationships that stem from it. This is the book I needed to have when I was a teenager, especially when I was about to go to college away from my Latinx family. Can’t wait for everyone to read it!
October 28, 2024
3.5 ✨️
Really liked the writing and the messy, meddling but devoted family vibes! The women were written so well and felt like they could jump off the pages 🤩 plus Leon is almost too good of a guy 👀
It definitely can use another few rounds of editing tho because the story meanders a lot in the middle and some things were repeated unnecessarily plus some scenes didn't line up? They'd confess their love but then one meeting later Amelia was shocked when Leon said he was in love with her like it was a revelation instead of something he confessed not ten pages ago? 🤷♀️ Made no sense but still cute af!
Also there was this whole idea of dating to learn more about yourself and how to be a good girlfriend which was dropped and picked up whenever it was convenient? Could have done with more reasoning here, as well as some more punishment for one of the "villains".
Still, I want more from this author 🥰
Really liked the writing and the messy, meddling but devoted family vibes! The women were written so well and felt like they could jump off the pages 🤩 plus Leon is almost too good of a guy 👀
It definitely can use another few rounds of editing tho because the story meanders a lot in the middle and some things were repeated unnecessarily plus some scenes didn't line up? They'd confess their love but then one meeting later Amelia was shocked when Leon said he was in love with her like it was a revelation instead of something he confessed not ten pages ago? 🤷♀️ Made no sense but still cute af!
Also there was this whole idea of dating to learn more about yourself and how to be a good girlfriend which was dropped and picked up whenever it was convenient? Could have done with more reasoning here, as well as some more punishment for one of the "villains".
Still, I want more from this author 🥰
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2025
2025 reads: 14/300
2025 tbr: 8/111
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
amelia hernandez has grown up hearing about her family’s curse: no woman in her family has ever had a long-lasting relationship. she’s determined to be the exception, though. so, she tracks down her exes to figure out where she went wrong to become a better girlfriend. when she unwillingly reunites with her ex leon, she decides this is a good opportunity to get a little revenge for how their relationship ended. however, this is much easier said than done, as her old feelings are rekindled.
i was so excited to read this book as soon as i heard its title, so i’m glad i got to read an early copy! this book was so funny, but had its serious moments, too, which makes a perfect rom-com, at least in my book. i really felt for amelia’s struggles with her love life and familial expectations. i loved how these aspects played out throughout the book, and i think they were handled with care.
i’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA rom-coms. i can’t wait to see what’s next from elba luz!
2025 tbr: 8/111
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
amelia hernandez has grown up hearing about her family’s curse: no woman in her family has ever had a long-lasting relationship. she’s determined to be the exception, though. so, she tracks down her exes to figure out where she went wrong to become a better girlfriend. when she unwillingly reunites with her ex leon, she decides this is a good opportunity to get a little revenge for how their relationship ended. however, this is much easier said than done, as her old feelings are rekindled.
i was so excited to read this book as soon as i heard its title, so i’m glad i got to read an early copy! this book was so funny, but had its serious moments, too, which makes a perfect rom-com, at least in my book. i really felt for amelia’s struggles with her love life and familial expectations. i loved how these aspects played out throughout the book, and i think they were handled with care.
i’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA rom-coms. i can’t wait to see what’s next from elba luz!
January 17, 2025
my blurb for this beautiful, hilarious book: Finally! The authentic teenage voice I’ve been waiting for. Elba Luz gets the awkward intricacies of young romance and family drama, allowing Amelia’s hilarious voice to shine with nonstop heart and wit. A must-read debut for fans of YA!
January 15, 2025
incoherent review:
AMELIA IS MY FAVORITE PERSON EVER! she’s messy, chaotic, loves with all her heart and is lost in life (just like me 🥹💘✨). this book was a perfectly imperfect coming of age story, where she learns to be herself with family and love. (4.75/5) full rtc
January 7, 2025
The publisher reached out to me about this one and I wasn’t completely sure if I’d enjoy it, but I loved the idea of all the cultural aspects to the family, and the whole find out with the exes maybe what was the problem is one type of story that is fun as well. I was lucky enough to have snow days off from work and got to read almost straight through this in a little over a day.
There was a lot of humor, between how the family interacted with each other, which I loved – reminded me in ways of the sarcastic qualities of my own family, and the clumsiness and awkwardness that Amelia seemed to go through life and on her dates with. It was easy to see why Amelia wanted to get out and have a gap year away from her family. As wonderful as they were to have around and just be there for her, it also was a bit suffocating for her, not to mention no one had ever really asked what she actually wanted. She gave a description at the end of how she wasn’t good at anything, and not in a way that she was putting herself down, but a way she was describing that the choices she’d made led her to not know what she liked or try to get better at things other than what her family wanted or expected her to do. And those weren’t the things she was good at, or cared to get better at.
Her romantic life was funny, but also I definitely cringed for her a lot. The whole going back to try with exes reminded me both of one of my favorite books/movies – What’s Your Number? and also the episode of The Big Bang Theory when Raj had all his exes meet him and then he asked them questions about what went wrong and what he could do to improve. Of course there was the ONE ex, Leon, who suddenly showed back up in her life. The one who had broken her heart, and never apologized or even explained why he did what he did. And here he is back again in her life, and he still does neither of those things.
That irritated me for her, I mean if he’d just explained it could have saved so much heartache early on. Not to mention maybe she wouldn’t have gotten the revenge plan in her head. All the different things that made Amelia end up going viral, embarrassing things, made so much of the book, and wow, it just sucked for her! And oh did I want to punch that person at the end, I had a feeling that the little journal was going to get in the wrong hands, I just didn’t expect that to happen!
But it wasn’t just a romance, there was the whole issue with her family and how she felt with them, even as she loved them as much as she did. The moment when she talked about why she wasn’t good at anything, and then the whole what you might call “come to Jesus” discussion with her family was so good. There was so much emotion, and so many things that came out, it was great having her mom kind of come out and take a stand, as it seemed Amelia’s mother really did need to do something to take care of herself. And the things that we learned about her aunts, things they’d done and not told her, and how they reacted and possibly changed after the big talk, all of it made for so much more than just a contemporary romance type of story.
I had one small issue, but it is something that would be very unpopular as an opinion right now, so I won’t list it, and it was the reason I was unsure about taking the book and marked it down to 4.5 stars on my blog. However I was so into this story, once I picked it up with time to read I could barely put it down. Another one I can’t wait to share with my students!
There was a lot of humor, between how the family interacted with each other, which I loved – reminded me in ways of the sarcastic qualities of my own family, and the clumsiness and awkwardness that Amelia seemed to go through life and on her dates with. It was easy to see why Amelia wanted to get out and have a gap year away from her family. As wonderful as they were to have around and just be there for her, it also was a bit suffocating for her, not to mention no one had ever really asked what she actually wanted. She gave a description at the end of how she wasn’t good at anything, and not in a way that she was putting herself down, but a way she was describing that the choices she’d made led her to not know what she liked or try to get better at things other than what her family wanted or expected her to do. And those weren’t the things she was good at, or cared to get better at.
Her romantic life was funny, but also I definitely cringed for her a lot. The whole going back to try with exes reminded me both of one of my favorite books/movies – What’s Your Number? and also the episode of The Big Bang Theory when Raj had all his exes meet him and then he asked them questions about what went wrong and what he could do to improve. Of course there was the ONE ex, Leon, who suddenly showed back up in her life. The one who had broken her heart, and never apologized or even explained why he did what he did. And here he is back again in her life, and he still does neither of those things.
That irritated me for her, I mean if he’d just explained it could have saved so much heartache early on. Not to mention maybe she wouldn’t have gotten the revenge plan in her head. All the different things that made Amelia end up going viral, embarrassing things, made so much of the book, and wow, it just sucked for her! And oh did I want to punch that person at the end, I had a feeling that the little journal was going to get in the wrong hands, I just didn’t expect that to happen!
But it wasn’t just a romance, there was the whole issue with her family and how she felt with them, even as she loved them as much as she did. The moment when she talked about why she wasn’t good at anything, and then the whole what you might call “come to Jesus” discussion with her family was so good. There was so much emotion, and so many things that came out, it was great having her mom kind of come out and take a stand, as it seemed Amelia’s mother really did need to do something to take care of herself. And the things that we learned about her aunts, things they’d done and not told her, and how they reacted and possibly changed after the big talk, all of it made for so much more than just a contemporary romance type of story.
I had one small issue, but it is something that would be very unpopular as an opinion right now, so I won’t list it, and it was the reason I was unsure about taking the book and marked it down to 4.5 stars on my blog. However I was so into this story, once I picked it up with time to read I could barely put it down. Another one I can’t wait to share with my students!
February 6, 2025
The Hernandez women are unlucky in love. They believe there is a family curse that causes all of their relationships to crash and burn. Amelia, feeling incredibly smothered by her family, is determined to break the curse and break free from her family. To do so, she has decided to re-date her exes to determine where she went wrong and use that knowledge to become the perfect un-break-up-able girlfriend. But when her ex to end all exes Leon shows back up in town, she decides to have a little revenge as well. However, as she uses her new skills to reel Leon back in just to break his heart, she learns that old habits are hard to kill. And it might be herself who she’s setting up for heartbreak.
I loved this sooo much! Amelia was a fantastic character with so much resilience. Seeing her get back up again and again when others would have simply curled in a ball was really inspiring. Even though she felt like she was a failure at everything, you could tell that she is destined to succeed in life. More so than the romance, Amelia’s relationship with her family was a major focus of the book. Amelia breaking out of the mold shaped for her by her parental figures, and learning to develop her own individuality. I really loved the entire dynamic of her family, two generations of sisters, and how she vocalized that her needs differed from theirs.
Leon is now one of my favorite book boyfriends. He’s absolutely adorable and sweet and thoughtful. The way he’s head of heels for Amelia and would do anything for her. I thought they were the most perfect couple and I really loved seeing their romance and the journey they had. Second chance romance is so slept on as a trope. His character was also well established and it was interesting to see how his family struggles both mirrored and differed from Amelia’s.
I highly recommend this, a great coming of age novel with a swoon worthy romance.
I loved this sooo much! Amelia was a fantastic character with so much resilience. Seeing her get back up again and again when others would have simply curled in a ball was really inspiring. Even though she felt like she was a failure at everything, you could tell that she is destined to succeed in life. More so than the romance, Amelia’s relationship with her family was a major focus of the book. Amelia breaking out of the mold shaped for her by her parental figures, and learning to develop her own individuality. I really loved the entire dynamic of her family, two generations of sisters, and how she vocalized that her needs differed from theirs.
Leon is now one of my favorite book boyfriends. He’s absolutely adorable and sweet and thoughtful. The way he’s head of heels for Amelia and would do anything for her. I thought they were the most perfect couple and I really loved seeing their romance and the journey they had. Second chance romance is so slept on as a trope. His character was also well established and it was interesting to see how his family struggles both mirrored and differed from Amelia’s.
I highly recommend this, a great coming of age novel with a swoon worthy romance.
February 6, 2025
This book turned out to be so much more than just a cute romance.
The start of this book was filled with a loud but loving latina family and a young girl that is trying to figure out why she cannot keep a relationship. Amelia is 18 and while she loves her family also feels like she doesn't know who she is as a person outside of it.
This story had sarcastic humor that had me laughing out loud often. A realistic family story that I think a lot of teens would connect with. And a romance that will melt your heart, Leon was adorable.
My favorite quote: "They don't see me. At least, not completely. I'm not invisible, and I think that makes it worse. That I'm visible to them, yet overlooked"
If you are looking for a humorous, romantic, self acceptance story; for sure pick up this clean/no spice book.
The start of this book was filled with a loud but loving latina family and a young girl that is trying to figure out why she cannot keep a relationship. Amelia is 18 and while she loves her family also feels like she doesn't know who she is as a person outside of it.
This story had sarcastic humor that had me laughing out loud often. A realistic family story that I think a lot of teens would connect with. And a romance that will melt your heart, Leon was adorable.
My favorite quote: "They don't see me. At least, not completely. I'm not invisible, and I think that makes it worse. That I'm visible to them, yet overlooked"
If you are looking for a humorous, romantic, self acceptance story; for sure pick up this clean/no spice book.
January 20, 2025
This was one of my anticipated reads and it did not disappoint. This is a beautiful, authentic look at the summer after high school. I loved Amelia in all her sweet messy glory. I particularly loved the family and sister relationships because they felt so real and made me feel all the feels.
I loved that she was queer with an accepting family before the book even started because while coming out books are wonderful, sometimes it’s nice to see queer joy after coming out.
The singular thing I would change would be Amelia only went on date with girls in the tiny notes that started the chapters and I would have wished she would have gone on a date with a girl on the page.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and will continue to read work from this author
I loved that she was queer with an accepting family before the book even started because while coming out books are wonderful, sometimes it’s nice to see queer joy after coming out.
The singular thing I would change would be Amelia only went on date with girls in the tiny notes that started the chapters and I would have wished she would have gone on a date with a girl on the page.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and will continue to read work from this author
October 7, 2025
What a lovely book! ☺️ Though I found it a bit boring at certain points.
January 13, 2025
"Whether it's by heartbreak, scandal, or even accidental death, every romantic relationship that a Hernandez woman has will meet its demise eventually."
Build a girlfriend is the book which is going to make you laugh until you have tears in your eyes, it is also going to make you feel seen and then it is going to heal you in the sweetest way possible. Before starting the book I read some of it's reviews and there was this one review which stuck with me where someone said that "rip Shakespeare you would have loved this" and after finishing this it makes so much sense. The book is full of humor and is such charming rom-com that you won't be disappointed. Even if I am not a big fan of miscommunication trope still this book didn't disappoint me.
PLOT
All the women in the Hernandez family appeared to be cursed; that they will never be able to hold on to a long term relationship. Amelia at first didn't believe the curse but after being dumped by every partner she thinks that she suffers from the curse in the worst way than any of the other women in her family. In order to make Amelia feel better and make her realise how she is not that bad her sister and her titi's come up with a plan to turn her into the perfect girlfriend, the plan requires going on dates with all her ex's and then comes Leon the one ex she had been the longest with who by the way also happens to be the love of her life, and he is also the one she hates the most because he happens to be the one who left her two years ago without any notice except a text leaving her to go through the worst breakup ever. Now Amelia wants revenge but but but is her plan of revenge going to work? The important question is does she really hate him?
Amelia
"How can I love myself when I don't even know myself."
The first thing you should know about her is that she an absolute romantic. She is one of those protagonist you just can't stop relating to clumsy, quirky and just so human. Her self doubts, her deeper insecurities, her urge to do something for her own self instead of doing what others want her to do...reading everything about her made it so easy to understand her and I was literally rooting for her throughout the book.
Leon
"It was like wherever I was placed, I couldn't fit. I couldn't do what I needed."
Where should I even start ranting about him. He is Kind, sweet, caring, loving and not to forget totally whipped. The way remembered every little detail about her the ones even Amelia didn't notice about herself was just so freaking adorable. My hopeless romantic heart had a full treat with him. He has all the qualities of the perfect rom com protagonist, even though at one point I did thought he should have just talked to Amelia about everything but still that doesn't make me stop him liking even a bit.
Amelia & Leon
"Stay out of my business."
"You're my business."
My only complain about them is the miscommunication between them, other the that everything delivered. The banter, the tension, the care, the witty replies, the teasings, the glaces yes give me more of it A LOT MORE. Their relationship was just everything the way they slowly developed and understood each other *chef's kiss*
Now can we talk about Sophia cause I really really need to talk about her. She is literally the bestest sister anyone can ask for. Throughout the book my one wish that remained constant was to have a sister like her. The way she supported Amelia, always cheered her up, was always ready to help her and was always so caring towards her literally melted my damn heart. On a serious note I would do anything to have a sister like her.
Now can we talk about her family? The way they were so supportive and so protective, the way they meddled with almost everything I guess made them feel so much real. I love the bond they shared even though I found the meddling a bit overboard still I think that's what any family would do isn't it? (I do think titi Ivy maybe killed her husband)
Elba Luz has written the book with spot on rom-com vibes which also has plenty of moments to laugh out loud, swoony scenes, and also chaos which just keeps you hooked to it. The writing of the book was quite adequate and the plot was sufficiently interesting even though it was predictable. The book made me think that maybe I am the only one cursed in my family and I should start looking for my Leon and it also made me realise how it's fine to do your own thing instead of just letting people choose it for you. One of my most favourite scene from the book would be where Amelia's mom stood up for her. The book is not just a contemporary romance but so much more than that and you will have to dive into it find more about it.
Overall if you want to read a book full of humor, family warmth, romance, witty replies and banter between enemies who were once lovers and are again going to turn into one I guess you have came across the right book cause it is not going to disappoint you. The only reason it wasn't a five star for me was because of the miscommunication cause to be honest I am not that fond of it.
Thank you Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for the arc in return of an honest review.
Build a girlfriend is the book which is going to make you laugh until you have tears in your eyes, it is also going to make you feel seen and then it is going to heal you in the sweetest way possible. Before starting the book I read some of it's reviews and there was this one review which stuck with me where someone said that "rip Shakespeare you would have loved this" and after finishing this it makes so much sense. The book is full of humor and is such charming rom-com that you won't be disappointed. Even if I am not a big fan of miscommunication trope still this book didn't disappoint me.
PLOT
All the women in the Hernandez family appeared to be cursed; that they will never be able to hold on to a long term relationship. Amelia at first didn't believe the curse but after being dumped by every partner she thinks that she suffers from the curse in the worst way than any of the other women in her family. In order to make Amelia feel better and make her realise how she is not that bad her sister and her titi's come up with a plan to turn her into the perfect girlfriend, the plan requires going on dates with all her ex's and then comes Leon the one ex she had been the longest with who by the way also happens to be the love of her life, and he is also the one she hates the most because he happens to be the one who left her two years ago without any notice except a text leaving her to go through the worst breakup ever. Now Amelia wants revenge but but but is her plan of revenge going to work? The important question is does she really hate him?
Amelia
"How can I love myself when I don't even know myself."
The first thing you should know about her is that she an absolute romantic. She is one of those protagonist you just can't stop relating to clumsy, quirky and just so human. Her self doubts, her deeper insecurities, her urge to do something for her own self instead of doing what others want her to do...reading everything about her made it so easy to understand her and I was literally rooting for her throughout the book.
Leon
"It was like wherever I was placed, I couldn't fit. I couldn't do what I needed."
Where should I even start ranting about him. He is Kind, sweet, caring, loving and not to forget totally whipped. The way remembered every little detail about her the ones even Amelia didn't notice about herself was just so freaking adorable. My hopeless romantic heart had a full treat with him. He has all the qualities of the perfect rom com protagonist, even though at one point I did thought he should have just talked to Amelia about everything but still that doesn't make me stop him liking even a bit.
Amelia & Leon
"Stay out of my business."
"You're my business."
My only complain about them is the miscommunication between them, other the that everything delivered. The banter, the tension, the care, the witty replies, the teasings, the glaces yes give me more of it A LOT MORE. Their relationship was just everything the way they slowly developed and understood each other *chef's kiss*
Now can we talk about Sophia cause I really really need to talk about her. She is literally the bestest sister anyone can ask for. Throughout the book my one wish that remained constant was to have a sister like her. The way she supported Amelia, always cheered her up, was always ready to help her and was always so caring towards her literally melted my damn heart. On a serious note I would do anything to have a sister like her.
Now can we talk about her family? The way they were so supportive and so protective, the way they meddled with almost everything I guess made them feel so much real. I love the bond they shared even though I found the meddling a bit overboard still I think that's what any family would do isn't it? (I do think titi Ivy maybe killed her husband)
Elba Luz has written the book with spot on rom-com vibes which also has plenty of moments to laugh out loud, swoony scenes, and also chaos which just keeps you hooked to it. The writing of the book was quite adequate and the plot was sufficiently interesting even though it was predictable. The book made me think that maybe I am the only one cursed in my family and I should start looking for my Leon and it also made me realise how it's fine to do your own thing instead of just letting people choose it for you. One of my most favourite scene from the book would be where Amelia's mom stood up for her. The book is not just a contemporary romance but so much more than that and you will have to dive into it find more about it.
Overall if you want to read a book full of humor, family warmth, romance, witty replies and banter between enemies who were once lovers and are again going to turn into one I guess you have came across the right book cause it is not going to disappoint you. The only reason it wasn't a five star for me was because of the miscommunication cause to be honest I am not that fond of it.
Thank you Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for the arc in return of an honest review.
January 16, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
This is a romance heavy on love, be it from Leon or from Amelia’s many aunts and sisters. The Hernandez family — all women — is full of love and warmth, acceptance and forgiveness. Together, these four women (Tia Sandra, Titi Ivy, Titi Sandra, and of course Amelia’s mom) are raising Amelia, Sophia, Marisol, and baby Zoe as a collective of mother figures. There’s baking and makeup, curfews and crystals, and always love. If you’re into books with strong women characters and loving families, you’re going to have so much fun with this book.
The two great loves of Amelia’s life, Leon and her family, are undeniably the point of this book. And that’s fine, but I do feel like the blurb was misleading, and the boot camp moments don’t mesh in perfectly with the Leon storyline. However, the writing is so very good, the pace is pleasant, the characters are so vivid and warm and real that this book was a delight to read. But the giant hanging plot thread was distracting.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
This is a romance heavy on love, be it from Leon or from Amelia’s many aunts and sisters. The Hernandez family — all women — is full of love and warmth, acceptance and forgiveness. Together, these four women (Tia Sandra, Titi Ivy, Titi Sandra, and of course Amelia’s mom) are raising Amelia, Sophia, Marisol, and baby Zoe as a collective of mother figures. There’s baking and makeup, curfews and crystals, and always love. If you’re into books with strong women characters and loving families, you’re going to have so much fun with this book.
The two great loves of Amelia’s life, Leon and her family, are undeniably the point of this book. And that’s fine, but I do feel like the blurb was misleading, and the boot camp moments don’t mesh in perfectly with the Leon storyline. However, the writing is so very good, the pace is pleasant, the characters are so vivid and warm and real that this book was a delight to read. But the giant hanging plot thread was distracting.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
February 1, 2025
This book is kind of a mess, and not in a fun way, more like a “we lost the plot” way. 😕😕😕
At first this book was supposed to be about Amelia dating her exes to find out what she lacked as a girlfriend. However, we never actually get to see this happen. Other than 2 dates, all of the dates happened OFF-PAGE, and we’d only get to hear about them in 1 paragraph at the beginning of some chapters. Literally just *1 paragraph* where they’d quickly mention the dates and that’s it. Just *telling* instead of *showing* the literal premise of the book! What the hell?! 😐😐😐
This whole thing became so confusing that I didn’t even fully understand if those were dates she was CURRENTLY going on, or if she was looking back and analyzing old dates from past years (which would make sense since the dates were never even *mentioned* outside of those paragraphs at the start of chapters). It was just a mess!
Later, one of her exes (Leon) shows back up, and Amelia IMMEDIATELY makes it clear that she still likes him, even though they haven’t seen each other in 2 years + he literally broke up with her and ghosted her. She supposedly “hates” him, yet she still has feelings for him, which like, I get it, because she did like him at one point. However, it’s kind of pathetic to see her clearly still in love with the dude who broke her heart several years ago. 🥴 Additionally, her girlfriend Perri breaks up with her at the start of the book, yet Amelia never even thinks about her! Yet she’s obsessed with Leon…… 😑 Okay.
Leon literally dumped and ghosted her YEARS ago, and when he shows up again he keeps messing with her, + he never apologizes for hurting her. And then he asks to be her friend again?????? The audacity of men…… 🤡 She accepts it with the intention of making him fall for her so she can break his heart, just like he’d done to her. This became the whole plot of the book, since the dating-the-exes thing was discarded by the author after a grand total of 2 dates. However, this was also not very well done…… 🫥
Amelia quickly falls in love with Leon again (they almost kiss at 44% 🙄), even though he never even apologized for hurting her 2 years prior. I never understood why they liked each other. Second-chance relationships are hard to sell, and this author didn’t manage to make this romance believable. Their relationship in the present is solely based on their past relationship, but we didn’t see enough of them in the past for me to care about their romance… 😕 At some point Leon mentions that his favourite memories are the ones with her, and I was sitting there thinking “Damn. Wouldn’t it’ve been nice to see more of those, so I could at least TRY to understand why y’all got together in the first place, let alone why you fell for each other AGAIN?!” 🫤
Leon pissed me off throughout the whole book, because he simply refused to apologize for hurting Amelia, or to, at the very least, explain himself. It was infuriating, especially since Amelia constantly acknowledged that she deserved an apology, yet she was still in love with him????? 🤡 Maybe I’m just built different, but if a man treats me poorly and then refuses to apologize I am NOT going to be swooning over him! 🤷🏻
At the end of the book, a bunch of characters turn out to be evil lmao.
Everyone lowkey sucks in this book. I just wish Amelia would cut them all off and find happiness on the other side of the world. 😭💀
Speaking of Amelia: I didn’t really like to be in her head 🥴. The fact that she was so obsessed with her ex who hurt her without apologizing already makes her annoying. She was also clumsy to the point where it became fucking absurd; she was always tripping, falling, dropping things, getting dirty or soaked. It became a caricature! At some point she doesn’t want Leon to get on a train so she EATS his ticket????? What the actual fuck?? The physical comedy simply never landed. It was just unfunny. Leon was also constantly rescuing her, + helping her as if she is a child (putting on her shoes, buckling her in…). Amelia is PATHETIC and INCOMPETENT!!!
There were also some typos and continuity mistakes, but I guess that’s the least egregious thing in this book lmao. It is proof that it wasn’t properly edited, though. Perhaps if someone had paid more attention to this book during editing they would’ve noticed that the author literally lost the plot, lmaoooo. 💀💀💀
(review written on 01/02/2025)
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this sounds messy but like in the BEST way possible i cant WAIT!!!!!!!
(19/04/2023)
At first this book was supposed to be about Amelia dating her exes to find out what she lacked as a girlfriend. However, we never actually get to see this happen. Other than 2 dates, all of the dates happened OFF-PAGE, and we’d only get to hear about them in 1 paragraph at the beginning of some chapters. Literally just *1 paragraph* where they’d quickly mention the dates and that’s it. Just *telling* instead of *showing* the literal premise of the book! What the hell?! 😐😐😐
This whole thing became so confusing that I didn’t even fully understand if those were dates she was CURRENTLY going on, or if she was looking back and analyzing old dates from past years (which would make sense since the dates were never even *mentioned* outside of those paragraphs at the start of chapters). It was just a mess!
Later, one of her exes (Leon) shows back up, and Amelia IMMEDIATELY makes it clear that she still likes him, even though they haven’t seen each other in 2 years + he literally broke up with her and ghosted her. She supposedly “hates” him, yet she still has feelings for him, which like, I get it, because she did like him at one point. However, it’s kind of pathetic to see her clearly still in love with the dude who broke her heart several years ago. 🥴 Additionally, her girlfriend Perri breaks up with her at the start of the book, yet Amelia never even thinks about her! Yet she’s obsessed with Leon…… 😑 Okay.
Leon literally dumped and ghosted her YEARS ago, and when he shows up again he keeps messing with her, + he never apologizes for hurting her. And then he asks to be her friend again?????? The audacity of men…… 🤡 She accepts it with the intention of making him fall for her so she can break his heart, just like he’d done to her. This became the whole plot of the book, since the dating-the-exes thing was discarded by the author after a grand total of 2 dates. However, this was also not very well done…… 🫥
Amelia quickly falls in love with Leon again (they almost kiss at 44% 🙄), even though he never even apologized for hurting her 2 years prior. I never understood why they liked each other. Second-chance relationships are hard to sell, and this author didn’t manage to make this romance believable. Their relationship in the present is solely based on their past relationship, but we didn’t see enough of them in the past for me to care about their romance… 😕 At some point Leon mentions that his favourite memories are the ones with her, and I was sitting there thinking “Damn. Wouldn’t it’ve been nice to see more of those, so I could at least TRY to understand why y’all got together in the first place, let alone why you fell for each other AGAIN?!” 🫤
Leon pissed me off throughout the whole book, because he simply refused to apologize for hurting Amelia, or to, at the very least, explain himself. It was infuriating, especially since Amelia constantly acknowledged that she deserved an apology, yet she was still in love with him????? 🤡 Maybe I’m just built different, but if a man treats me poorly and then refuses to apologize I am NOT going to be swooning over him! 🤷🏻
At the end of the book, a bunch of characters turn out to be evil lmao.
Everyone lowkey sucks in this book. I just wish Amelia would cut them all off and find happiness on the other side of the world. 😭💀
Speaking of Amelia: I didn’t really like to be in her head 🥴. The fact that she was so obsessed with her ex who hurt her without apologizing already makes her annoying. She was also clumsy to the point where it became fucking absurd; she was always tripping, falling, dropping things, getting dirty or soaked. It became a caricature! At some point she doesn’t want Leon to get on a train so she EATS his ticket????? What the actual fuck?? The physical comedy simply never landed. It was just unfunny. Leon was also constantly rescuing her, + helping her as if she is a child (putting on her shoes, buckling her in…). Amelia is PATHETIC and INCOMPETENT!!!
There were also some typos and continuity mistakes, but I guess that’s the least egregious thing in this book lmao. It is proof that it wasn’t properly edited, though. Perhaps if someone had paid more attention to this book during editing they would’ve noticed that the author literally lost the plot, lmaoooo. 💀💀💀
(review written on 01/02/2025)
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this sounds messy but like in the BEST way possible i cant WAIT!!!!!!!
(19/04/2023)
April 14, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up!
January 11, 2025
3.5/5 - There were definitely things about Amelia’s story that I could relate to. I don’t know if it’s a Hispanic thing or what, but my grandmother was NOT OKAY when I told her I was going out of state for college. But like Amelia, I could feel the pressure building up all through high school and knew something would be irrevocably damaged if I didn’t get out on my own at least for a bit. I think that will be a relatable feeling for a lot of teen readers, but I also appreciate that they included Sofia as a contrasting perspective because not everyone feels that way.
Things I didn’t love: how clumsy Amelia was, that we barely saw any dates with her exes, that I couldn’t tell any of her aunts apart (perhaps my fault for not paying enough attention), it’s never explained how or why Amelia hid her year long relationship with Leon from her family.
Overall, I thought this book had some great things going for it and found it to be really relatable in some aspects. Amelia’s development as a character seemed genuine and I liked seeing how much love she had for her family. I thought it was written well and would have appreciated a book like this myself as a teenager.
Note: Thanks to Simon & Schuster for providing an early finished copy in exchange for an honest review!
Things I didn’t love: how clumsy Amelia was, that we barely saw any dates with her exes, that I couldn’t tell any of her aunts apart (perhaps my fault for not paying enough attention), it’s never explained how or why Amelia hid her year long relationship with Leon from her family.
Overall, I thought this book had some great things going for it and found it to be really relatable in some aspects. Amelia’s development as a character seemed genuine and I liked seeing how much love she had for her family. I thought it was written well and would have appreciated a book like this myself as a teenager.
Note: Thanks to Simon & Schuster for providing an early finished copy in exchange for an honest review!
January 9, 2025
4.5
I always love a good second chance romance, the yearning, the longing, the hurt hits every time !!! and Elba luz’s debut hits every spot !!!
This book is for everyone who loves;
♡⸝⸝ second chance romance
♡⸝⸝ strong female characters
♡⸝��� family curse
♡⸝⸝ queer fmc
♡⸝⸝ hate to love
plot : amelia has a family curse, the women in her family have never been able to stay in a relationship for long, so after her recent breakup she needs to understand what she does wrong, she goes on dates with her exes to see what needs to change until she comes face to face with that one boy who broke her heart.
characters : amelia, is a messy teenager who wants to fall in love so badly. She is a little clueless, chaotic and confused. I love how the teen representation is so accurate, anyone who’s older should keep in mind, she's still very young. Her cluelessness at times, making bad decisions is very accurately written and even though she isn't perfect, she is so so lovable.
Leon, my baby, poor boy. You’ll feel so much love for him, you’ll start rooting for him from the first time he’s introduced and when you find out his reasoning, it’ll make you feel more love for him.
hernandez women are strong, independent, they are supportive and always love and encourage so much, it made me want to have such support for myself.
romance : SJSKJSKSNS a little messy but it was all i wanted from the book. The yearning, the pinning, the confession WAS EVERYTHING !!!!! you gotta stick with it, you can’t paint leon as a bad person, there’s more to his story and as you read you’ll find more about it.
This is a ya romance packed with everything you’d expect, a fun plot, chaotic characters and swoon worthy romance.
initial review
curse for some (amelia ~ wants to find love so bad ) blessing for others (titi ivy ~ maybe killed her third husband )
I always love a good second chance romance, the yearning, the longing, the hurt hits every time !!! and Elba luz’s debut hits every spot !!!
This book is for everyone who loves;
♡⸝⸝ second chance romance
♡⸝⸝ strong female characters
♡⸝��� family curse
♡⸝⸝ queer fmc
♡⸝⸝ hate to love
plot : amelia has a family curse, the women in her family have never been able to stay in a relationship for long, so after her recent breakup she needs to understand what she does wrong, she goes on dates with her exes to see what needs to change until she comes face to face with that one boy who broke her heart.
characters : amelia, is a messy teenager who wants to fall in love so badly. She is a little clueless, chaotic and confused. I love how the teen representation is so accurate, anyone who’s older should keep in mind, she's still very young. Her cluelessness at times, making bad decisions is very accurately written and even though she isn't perfect, she is so so lovable.
Leon, my baby, poor boy. You’ll feel so much love for him, you’ll start rooting for him from the first time he’s introduced and when you find out his reasoning, it’ll make you feel more love for him.
hernandez women are strong, independent, they are supportive and always love and encourage so much, it made me want to have such support for myself.
romance : SJSKJSKSNS a little messy but it was all i wanted from the book. The yearning, the pinning, the confession WAS EVERYTHING !!!!! you gotta stick with it, you can’t paint leon as a bad person, there’s more to his story and as you read you’ll find more about it.
This is a ya romance packed with everything you’d expect, a fun plot, chaotic characters and swoon worthy romance.
initial review
curse for some (amelia ~ wants to find love so bad ) blessing for others (titi ivy ~ maybe killed her third husband )
December 18, 2022
this is my joker
December 24, 2022
Can’t wait to read my lil cousin book 🥰
Read
January 23, 2025I'm really conflicted about this, I don't think I can give it a star rating. I want to preface my review by saying I was gifted an ARC and I am used to ARC's being in near-publication state with very minimal edits being made between ARC syndication and the final publication. I hope the file that I read is not the version that is being printed and sold.
Pro's:
-Amelia was fun, I adored her and her relationships with her sister and with her ex, Leon.
-This had great Puerto Rican cultural representation
-Adults in Amelia's life wrong her and actually apologize, A+, fantastic.
Cons's:
-The premise of the book didn't really follow through, basically all of the Ex Retrospective dating occurred off-screen. So we didn't really see her deep-dive into her dating history, uncover her mistakes, or become "the perfect girlfriend."
-I'm not sure if this got fixed before final publication but my ARC was riddled with continuity errors. The timeline made very little sense. For example, Amelia falls in a hole and that same day is getting hole-splinters tweezed out of her butt, but then references that her hole-falling incident happened the day before... but A) there were not cuts in time and B) there's no way anyone would wait that long to take out the splinters?? It felt like scenes were moved/axed without checking how it impacted the scenes that were left. Even for an ARC, it felt very unpolished.
-This last one is minor, but infuriating as a Massachusetts local. A plot point is that Amelia gets a job at The Big E to help pay for a program she wants to enroll in which needs to be paid for by the end of August. But Amelia lives in Canton, MA which is 100 miles away from The Big E (why would she commute that far?), and the Big E is a huge event that takes place in September (after her program's payment deadline). The author could have had the same exact plot if Amelia lived in the Springfield area and had her payment date instead be the end of September, so... why keep these blatantly wrong details when they are so easy to fix?
Also, can goodreads readers please stop tagging this as a lesbian book?? Amelia is BISEXUAL. She literally says on the page that she likes guys and girls and she literally dates multiple genders in the book. Please stop with the bi erasure.
Pro's:
-Amelia was fun, I adored her and her relationships with her sister and with her ex, Leon.
-This had great Puerto Rican cultural representation
-Adults in Amelia's life wrong her and actually apologize, A+, fantastic.
Cons's:
-The premise of the book didn't really follow through, basically all of the Ex Retrospective dating occurred off-screen. So we didn't really see her deep-dive into her dating history, uncover her mistakes, or become "the perfect girlfriend."
-I'm not sure if this got fixed before final publication but my ARC was riddled with continuity errors. The timeline made very little sense. For example, Amelia falls in a hole and that same day is getting hole-splinters tweezed out of her butt, but then references that her hole-falling incident happened the day before... but A) there were not cuts in time and B) there's no way anyone would wait that long to take out the splinters?? It felt like scenes were moved/axed without checking how it impacted the scenes that were left. Even for an ARC, it felt very unpolished.
-This last one is minor, but infuriating as a Massachusetts local. A plot point is that Amelia gets a job at The Big E to help pay for a program she wants to enroll in which needs to be paid for by the end of August. But Amelia lives in Canton, MA which is 100 miles away from The Big E (why would she commute that far?), and the Big E is a huge event that takes place in September (after her program's payment deadline). The author could have had the same exact plot if Amelia lived in the Springfield area and had her payment date instead be the end of September, so... why keep these blatantly wrong details when they are so easy to fix?
Also, can goodreads readers please stop tagging this as a lesbian book?? Amelia is BISEXUAL. She literally says on the page that she likes guys and girls and she literally dates multiple genders in the book. Please stop with the bi erasure.
January 5, 2025
Book Review: Build a Girlfriend by Elba Luz
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)
Oh, Build a Girlfriend, you charming little rom-com. This book gave me all the warm fuzzies, especially with its heartwarming focus on family and the adorable chaos of Amelia’s journey.
Let’s start with Amelia. She’s the kind of protagonist you can’t help but root for—quirky, clumsy, and just so endearingly human. I loved how her clumsiness wasn’t just a cute gimmick but tied into her deeper insecurities and growth. Watching her fumble (both literally and emotionally) and then rise above it made her arc so satisfying.
Can we talk about her family? The predominantly female, close-knit dynamic was such a joy to read. From supportive moments to hilarious meddling, it felt vibrant and real. You could feel the love in every scene, and it added so much depth to the story.
Now, Leon. Oh, Leon. He’s the perfect MMC for a rom-com like this—kind, charming, and just the right amount of brooding. Their chemistry had me grinning like a fool, but here’s where the miscommunication trope comes in. Sigh. I wanted to shake Leon and Amelia for their lack of honest conversations. It stretched a bit too long for my liking, but at least the payoff made up for the frustration.
The rom-com vibes were spot on, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, swoony scenes, and that sprinkle of chaos that keeps you flipping the pages. If you’re looking for a book with heart, humor, and a protagonist you’ll want to hug (and maybe shake a little), Build a Girlfriend is a great pick.
It’s not quite a perfect five stars for me, mostly because of the lingering miscommunication. But honestly? The charm, humor, and family warmth more than makeup for it. This one will stick with me for a while!
📚 Perfect for fans of The Hating Game and The Unhoneymooners.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)
Oh, Build a Girlfriend, you charming little rom-com. This book gave me all the warm fuzzies, especially with its heartwarming focus on family and the adorable chaos of Amelia’s journey.
Let’s start with Amelia. She’s the kind of protagonist you can’t help but root for—quirky, clumsy, and just so endearingly human. I loved how her clumsiness wasn’t just a cute gimmick but tied into her deeper insecurities and growth. Watching her fumble (both literally and emotionally) and then rise above it made her arc so satisfying.
Can we talk about her family? The predominantly female, close-knit dynamic was such a joy to read. From supportive moments to hilarious meddling, it felt vibrant and real. You could feel the love in every scene, and it added so much depth to the story.
Now, Leon. Oh, Leon. He’s the perfect MMC for a rom-com like this—kind, charming, and just the right amount of brooding. Their chemistry had me grinning like a fool, but here’s where the miscommunication trope comes in. Sigh. I wanted to shake Leon and Amelia for their lack of honest conversations. It stretched a bit too long for my liking, but at least the payoff made up for the frustration.
The rom-com vibes were spot on, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, swoony scenes, and that sprinkle of chaos that keeps you flipping the pages. If you’re looking for a book with heart, humor, and a protagonist you’ll want to hug (and maybe shake a little), Build a Girlfriend is a great pick.
It’s not quite a perfect five stars for me, mostly because of the lingering miscommunication. But honestly? The charm, humor, and family warmth more than makeup for it. This one will stick with me for a while!
📚 Perfect for fans of The Hating Game and The Unhoneymooners.
May 23, 2025
A young woman tried to uncover her mistakes when she goes on date to become the best girlfriend and get revenge on the wrong guy. This was a cute book and I loved the storyline. It was fun-filled with drama just like you would expect from the summary. I usually hate family drama and choas but this one was expected and the author did a great job with showing powering woman. I liked the FMC was dating a woman in the beginning but I do wish we got to see more of them together and her going on dates with her ex. The pacing was great and I liked the different conflicts throughout the book. This book is from Amelia’s pov.
Amelia is the FMC who is clumsy and in high school. You can tell from the writing that Leon is the one for her. I liked her character and seeing her grow. There are many different side characters in this book and they were the perfectly mentioned in this book the way they should be. Now, Leon was not my favorite because he didn’t treat Amelia with respect I can’t imagine liking him. I know has he aged he matured but like who apoligizes so late. The romance was whatever as I mainly cared for the FMC and seeing her develop. The romance was more of an end scene where you would see a rom com of a woman testing and she’s like okay I am going with that one.
The ending was well done, and overall it was a great book. I wouldn’t strictly consider this as a romance but more of a contemporary coming-of-age with romance. There’s a lot of growth that was done especially in a hispanic family. I recommend checking this out as it was a cute book you don’t want to miss out.
*this arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*
Amelia is the FMC who is clumsy and in high school. You can tell from the writing that Leon is the one for her. I liked her character and seeing her grow. There are many different side characters in this book and they were the perfectly mentioned in this book the way they should be. Now, Leon was not my favorite because he didn’t treat Amelia with respect I can’t imagine liking him. I know has he aged he matured but like who apoligizes so late. The romance was whatever as I mainly cared for the FMC and seeing her develop. The romance was more of an end scene where you would see a rom com of a woman testing and she’s like okay I am going with that one.
The ending was well done, and overall it was a great book. I wouldn’t strictly consider this as a romance but more of a contemporary coming-of-age with romance. There’s a lot of growth that was done especially in a hispanic family. I recommend checking this out as it was a cute book you don’t want to miss out.
*this arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*
February 8, 2025
What Makes This Book Shine
⭐ Amelia’s Relatable Journey
Amelia is a breath of fresh air! Her strength and humor shine through, making her a protagonist you can’t help but root for. From hilarious dating mishaps to heartfelt moments of self-reflection, her journey is as entertaining as it is meaningful. Teenage readers will undoubtedly connect with her struggle to fit in and her desire to change for others—something many of us have experienced.
⭐ The Perfect Blend of Humor and Heart
Luz expertly balances comedy and romance, ensuring that the book remains light and fun while exploring deeper themes like self-worth, identity, and the complexities of relationships. The “family curse” adds a unique twist that keeps the plot engaging, while the revenge-dating subplot injects plenty of laughs and drama.
⭐ A Bisexual MC Done Right
Representation matters, and Luz portrays Amelia’s bisexuality with nuance and authenticity. Her romantic struggles are universal yet deeply personal, making her a standout protagonist in YA literature.
⭐ A Fresh Take on Second Chances
What makes Build a Girlfriend truly stand out is its message: sometimes, relationships fail not because of one person’s flaws but because they just weren’t meant to work. Amelia’s journey reminds readers that self-discovery and embracing your authentic self are far more important than trying to mold yourself for someone else’s approval.
This is a fun read and if you love rom-coms then you'll like this one! Find more reviews by visiting my blog https://www.kimsbookreviewsandwriting....
⭐ Amelia’s Relatable Journey
Amelia is a breath of fresh air! Her strength and humor shine through, making her a protagonist you can’t help but root for. From hilarious dating mishaps to heartfelt moments of self-reflection, her journey is as entertaining as it is meaningful. Teenage readers will undoubtedly connect with her struggle to fit in and her desire to change for others—something many of us have experienced.
⭐ The Perfect Blend of Humor and Heart
Luz expertly balances comedy and romance, ensuring that the book remains light and fun while exploring deeper themes like self-worth, identity, and the complexities of relationships. The “family curse” adds a unique twist that keeps the plot engaging, while the revenge-dating subplot injects plenty of laughs and drama.
⭐ A Bisexual MC Done Right
Representation matters, and Luz portrays Amelia’s bisexuality with nuance and authenticity. Her romantic struggles are universal yet deeply personal, making her a standout protagonist in YA literature.
⭐ A Fresh Take on Second Chances
What makes Build a Girlfriend truly stand out is its message: sometimes, relationships fail not because of one person’s flaws but because they just weren’t meant to work. Amelia’s journey reminds readers that self-discovery and embracing your authentic self are far more important than trying to mold yourself for someone else’s approval.
This is a fun read and if you love rom-coms then you'll like this one! Find more reviews by visiting my blog https://www.kimsbookreviewsandwriting....
March 28, 2025
Okay, full disclosure…the title drew me in. “Build a girlfriend,” really? The thought experiment itself was definitely something I could relate to, if I had exes of course. Going on dates with past lovers to see what went wrong and how to improve for future dates? Cheesy enough to be cute, but also completely unrealistic. I love it. Break ups in real life are never quite as neat as Amelia’s…
And she’s had a lot of them, god damn! Girl is making me look bad…still, she’s trying to break a nasty curse so you can’t even hate her for dating so much. Arno didn’t get the memo though…what a douche. Definitely a walking “seems perfect at first but is actually the devil” type, though I guess maybe not as drastic as all that…but definitely not THE love interest. It was always going to be Leon, and I wasn’t buying the whole “let’s break his heath because he broke mine” routine. Sofia saw right through that as well.
I guess the biggest mystery here was “WHAT HAPPENED” to make Leon ✌️ out and leave Amelia high and dry…and it took most of the book to find out because he was being all secretive for what appeared to be no reason…until ofc we find out it was a noble reason. Because Leon is the consummate good guy! And Amelia didn’t need to build herself into the perfect girlfriend for him because she was already that, just by being herself and he was so attuned to her that he always knew the fight thing to do when she got herself into a sticky(or burning) situation.
Warm and fuzzy feels acquired. Cute romance novel did its job.
And she’s had a lot of them, god damn! Girl is making me look bad…still, she’s trying to break a nasty curse so you can’t even hate her for dating so much. Arno didn’t get the memo though…what a douche. Definitely a walking “seems perfect at first but is actually the devil” type, though I guess maybe not as drastic as all that…but definitely not THE love interest. It was always going to be Leon, and I wasn’t buying the whole “let’s break his heath because he broke mine” routine. Sofia saw right through that as well.
I guess the biggest mystery here was “WHAT HAPPENED” to make Leon ✌️ out and leave Amelia high and dry…and it took most of the book to find out because he was being all secretive for what appeared to be no reason…until ofc we find out it was a noble reason. Because Leon is the consummate good guy! And Amelia didn’t need to build herself into the perfect girlfriend for him because she was already that, just by being herself and he was so attuned to her that he always knew the fight thing to do when she got herself into a sticky(or burning) situation.
Warm and fuzzy feels acquired. Cute romance novel did its job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2024
All the women in the Hernandez family appear to be cursed to never be able to hold down a stable, long-term relationship. Amelia feels she suffers from the curse worst of all as one partner after another snuffs out the flame she thought they were burning together. In order to assuage her latest breakup pains, Amelia's Titis come together with a plan to make her into the perfect girlfriend in order to break the curse once and for all. But instead of being able to follow their advice, Amelia fails catastrophically, which might be exactly what she needs, after all.
This quirky rom-com is cute and sweet, focusing on the love the Hernandez family has for one another even when romantic partnerships fizzle. Dynamic characters from several generations make the house into a bustling hive of activity, but love is always at its center. The writing of the book is adequate, and the plot is sufficiently interesting despite its predictability. Amelia stands out as a pansexual protagonist, though her primary focus is on a male partner for the majority of the narrative. Fans of enemies to lovers romance stories will appreciate the delivery of this book, as will readers who enjoy watching as a clumsy hatchling becomes a beautiful swan on her own terms.
This quirky rom-com is cute and sweet, focusing on the love the Hernandez family has for one another even when romantic partnerships fizzle. Dynamic characters from several generations make the house into a bustling hive of activity, but love is always at its center. The writing of the book is adequate, and the plot is sufficiently interesting despite its predictability. Amelia stands out as a pansexual protagonist, though her primary focus is on a male partner for the majority of the narrative. Fans of enemies to lovers romance stories will appreciate the delivery of this book, as will readers who enjoy watching as a clumsy hatchling becomes a beautiful swan on her own terms.
December 28, 2024
Thank you for the free book, Simon Teen—out January 14!
Amelia believes her family is cursed to never find love—so she embarks on a project to re-date her exes in order to become the perfect girlfriend.
Important disclaimer: I think I’m now at an age where I struggle a bit with contemporary YA romance, simply because I am well-past the age range and can no longer relate to the characters as well. For that reason, I’ve tried to keep this review objective and relevant to the actual target audience (i.e., older teens and early twenties).
I really liked the concept of this one, and particularly loved the emphasis on family—both how supportive family can be and how important it is to find boundaries/remain your own person. The FMC is also Latina and her culture (particularly as it relates to cultural food) is important to the novel, which I appreciated.
The MMC, Leon, was an adorably sweet character and made for some super swoony moments throughout—I think the entire pig scene was one of my favorites (IYKYK), and there were many others! I was definitely rooting for them the whole way through, even if I was a bit frustrated by their decision making. I think those closer in age to the characters, in particular, might really love this one!
CW: Abandonment; parental neglect; fire
Amelia believes her family is cursed to never find love—so she embarks on a project to re-date her exes in order to become the perfect girlfriend.
Important disclaimer: I think I’m now at an age where I struggle a bit with contemporary YA romance, simply because I am well-past the age range and can no longer relate to the characters as well. For that reason, I’ve tried to keep this review objective and relevant to the actual target audience (i.e., older teens and early twenties).
I really liked the concept of this one, and particularly loved the emphasis on family—both how supportive family can be and how important it is to find boundaries/remain your own person. The FMC is also Latina and her culture (particularly as it relates to cultural food) is important to the novel, which I appreciated.
The MMC, Leon, was an adorably sweet character and made for some super swoony moments throughout—I think the entire pig scene was one of my favorites (IYKYK), and there were many others! I was definitely rooting for them the whole way through, even if I was a bit frustrated by their decision making. I think those closer in age to the characters, in particular, might really love this one!
CW: Abandonment; parental neglect; fire
February 1, 2025
A sweet YA romance with an engaging concept.
Amelia is determined to break the family curse. Every Hernandez woman ends up single, living in a giant community filled with love - just not romantic love. When her latest boyfriend dumps her out of the blue, she decides to track down her exes, go out on a follow-up date, and find out where things went wrong.
Complications ensue when the one who got away, Leo, shows up in town again. Even worse, he's working with his contractor father on Amelia's aunt's bakery, ensuring that they will meet again . . . and again . . . and again. Even more infuriately, he's being super sweet, almost as if he wasn't the same person who ripped Amelia's heart in two with a text message breakup a year earlier.
This is cleverly written. It can be hard to do a trope like this and make Leo believable, but both his earlier actions and his dependable, caring demeanor on his return make perfect sense - eventually. I loved going through the journey with Amelia. Also, her loving, supportive but demanding cast of aunties and sisters add charm to the story.
This is a heartwarming read that keeps your interest from the first page.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Amelia is determined to break the family curse. Every Hernandez woman ends up single, living in a giant community filled with love - just not romantic love. When her latest boyfriend dumps her out of the blue, she decides to track down her exes, go out on a follow-up date, and find out where things went wrong.
Complications ensue when the one who got away, Leo, shows up in town again. Even worse, he's working with his contractor father on Amelia's aunt's bakery, ensuring that they will meet again . . . and again . . . and again. Even more infuriately, he's being super sweet, almost as if he wasn't the same person who ripped Amelia's heart in two with a text message breakup a year earlier.
This is cleverly written. It can be hard to do a trope like this and make Leo believable, but both his earlier actions and his dependable, caring demeanor on his return make perfect sense - eventually. I loved going through the journey with Amelia. Also, her loving, supportive but demanding cast of aunties and sisters add charm to the story.
This is a heartwarming read that keeps your interest from the first page.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2025
Build a Girlfriend is fun and chaotic with lots of summer vibes. It took me a little bit to really get into it, but once I got used to the characters & their personalities I started to fly through it. The loud and chaotic family trope is one that is overwhelming for me and right out of the gate you’re thrown into the Hernandez family madness. Once I got used to it, I enjoyed seeing the back and forth between all of the aunties. There are quite a few moments that tug at your heartstrings with several of the characters, not just our main character, Amelia. She’s lovable and funny. She’s also clumsy. The secondhand embarrassment I felt was crippling and thank god for little sisters because Sofia was perfection. *chefs kiss* As far as Amelia’s history with Leon, you’re left in the dark about specifics for most of the book & it felt like the right balance of him being this nice guy, but can he be trusted. I was dying to find out what happened because it’s difficult to dislike him. He’s a fantastic book boyfriend.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for sending me an advance copy & thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for sending me an advance copy & thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc.
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